Immanuel Wallerstein: A look at the work of a world-renowned sociologist

Abstract

This article presents a summary evaluation of the work of American sociologist Immanuel Wallerstein. It outlines the basic ideas of Wallerstein's concept of the modern capitalist world-system, taking into account the contemporary context in which his work emerged, and gives attention to the critique of Parsons' modernization theory.

Last but not least, the article focuses on methodological aspects of Wallerstein's research, especially its links to the systemic approach, and above all its emphasis on the categories of time and space. Its conclusion is devoted to Wallerstein's ideas about developments in the near future.

Keywords

• Contemporary sociology
• historical sociology
• Wallerstein
• the modern capitalist world-system
• core
• semi-perifery
• periphery
• America
• The Soviet Union
• time
• space
• space-time
• crisis.